Aster and the others attempted to track Zareb so they could stop him, but it seems to be too late. Zareb already took a train and seems to be gone. Aster and the others hurried to where the train was, but it already appeared to be long gone.
"This is where the train was, but where could he have gone now?" Aster questioned.
"What could have been on the train that he had to take the whole thing?" Yukina questioned.
"Is that it? All over? It doesn't seem like there's anything more we can really do." Mary said.
"No. Now we've got to figure out his next move. Why would he need to steal an entire train?" Aster said. "What could he be planning that he had to do something like this?"
"Hey! Aster!" All of them looked to see Gin arriving. "We've got a big problem!"
"Zareb? We already know he stole a whole train." Aster said.
"It's worse than that!" Gin said. "The train he stole is actually carrying a substance that's highly combustible! His plan is to crash the train and take out everything within a couple good miles!"
"What?! That's what he's planning?!" Aster said as they all couldn't believe that is what Zareb is planning.
"That's insane! Wouldn't he get caught in an explosion that big?!" Mary said.
"Not if he uses his speed magic to get out of the blast range!" Sandy said.
"There's more! I also know what the target is! The train is heading for Era! That's where the headquarters of the Magic Council are!" Gin informed.
"What?!" Aster shouted. This was more serious than he expected.
"That can't be!" Yukina said in complete shock.
"The Magic Council? You mentioned that on the train, but what exactly is it?" Mary questioned.
"It's a government-like affiliation." Yukina said. "All legal guilds must be affiliated with them so they obtain job requests and authorized work. Basically, their job is to invoke law and order in the magical world."
"Currently, it is run by some of the Wizard Saints, some of the strongest wizards in all of the continent." Gin said. "If something like that were to fall, we all could be in trouble."
"The Magic Council did fall a couple times, so I've heard." Aster said. "However, during the time they were down like that, some evil and malevolent wizards used that opportunity to act. The Magic Council helps bring order to wizards and their guild, but they're fall could lead to chaos. Zareb knows that the council now is made out of some of the strongest wizards around, but I'm not sure if they would be able to survive an explosion of such magnitude."
"Do you think Zareb is doing this for revenge or something?" Gin questioned.
"It doesn't matter. This is madness. We have to do something." Aster said.
"Hold on." Sandy said with him knowing someone is missing. "Where's Maru?"
...
Maru
Zareb may have stolen the train, but Maru managed to make it just in time. He is trying to make his way to the conductor cabin from outside. He has to try and stop the train before it hits Era.
"It won't be long. Soon those stuck-up wizards in the council will get what's coming to them." Zareb said as he was rather excited. However, he took a look at a rearview mirror on the train and spotted Maru. "Someone is on without a ticket."
"I've got to get to up there." Maru made his way across the train and soon made it to the top of the conductor's cart. Once he made it up there, he tried to get to the front, but he then felt something knock him back. Whatever it was hit him fast that he couldn't see it, but hit him so hard that he was knocked him off his feet. "What was that?" He tried to get back up, but he felt something hit him from behind. "What's going on?"
"What's going on is me." Maru looked up and found himself with Zareb on the train. "You're one of those pests back at the station. I thought I brought enough men to keep you and your friends occupied. Then again, they weren't really wizards, just some petty thieves and such. How did you get here?"
"Well, I was fortunate enough to find someone that knew what you were after." Maru said. "Once he told me that, I was able to grab the train just before it left the station and hitched a ride."
"That's what I get for leaving a witness." Zareb complained. "Regardless, it's too late for you to stop me. We'll be hitting Era soon."
"Era?" Maru questioned.
"The last stop for this train containing tanks filled with a highly explosive magical substance." Zareb said. "Once this train crashes into the station and ignites those thanks, the whole thing is going to go boom with the Magic Council, as well as whatever else might be in Era."
"Are you serious?! That's what your plan is?!" Maru said.
"That's right, and you're not going to get in the way of that." Zareb said. He used his magic once again and ran over Maru once again.
"I've got to hit the brakes on this thing." Maru said. He tried to get to the front of the train, but Zareb didn't allow it as he grabbed a hold of Maru and tossed him back.
"As if I let you. With my speed, you'll never make it." Zareb claimed. Maru knew he was right, but there might be another idea.
"Maybe I can disconnect the tanks from the rest of the train." Maru figured.
"That won't work either. At the speed we're going, you won't be able to do that. Besides, I can still easily stop you thanks to my speed." Zareb claimed. "At this rate, it won't be long until we hit Era. After that, the whole place is going to go up in flames."
"So the best chance of stopping this is take you down? Fine with me!" Maru said. He fired blasts of light at him, but Zareb moved back as he evaded the attacks. Maru attempted to attack him directly, but Zareb ran him over once again.
"Face it. With this speed, you'll never be able to catch me." Zareb claimed. "No one has and no one ever will."
"Oh yeah?" Maru said with him smiling and Zareb thinking that was rather weird. "I think I'm starting to get the timing."
"The timing?" Zareb questioned.
"That's right. This is a pretty narrow space." Maru said. "You can only go back and forth rather than whatever direction you like." Maru was right. Zareb didn't realize it until just now. He really is stuck to move like that because they're fighting on a train and this train is so narrow. "All I have to do is get the timing right so that I can counter your attacks."
"Is that so?" Zareb said. Just like any killer, he was armed. He pulled out a pocket knife and unleashed the blade. "In that case, I'll just go straight for the kill." Maru readied himself for whatever Zareb might try, but Zareb thought this was over. "This is how I do all my kills. It will literally be quick and easy. You'll just be another one on my list." He used his magic and went right at him aiming to kill Maru with one strike. However, Maru was able to react in that short amount of time and unleashed a bright light. Zareb might be fast, but he's not faster than the speed of light. "Aw! My eyes!" He screamed as the light Maru unleashed blinded him and caused him to stop in his tracks. When that happened, Maru acted quickly by knocking the knife right out of Zareb's hands and it falling off the train. Once he did that, he hit Zareb right in the face and knocked him back. Zareb rolled against the train until he nearly fell off, but he was able to grab on.
"Let's see how well you fight when you can't rely on those same rotten tricks of yours to kill people." Maru said.
"This guy seems to have more power than I thought." Zareb muttered as he pulled himself back on the train. He could see now that Maru was tougher than he looks. "What guild are you from?"
"Phoenix Flame." Maru said.
"Well, little birdie, let's see how well you can actually fly." Zareb said as he was getting serious now.
...
Master Velvet
Meanwhile, Master Velvet was still at the guild masters' conference, but it looks like it was finishing up for him.
"Thank you, but I do believe it's time I get going." Velvet said with him departing. It all seemed like everything was done and he was heading on home.
"Master Velvet, please wait a minute!" A strange-looking frogman said as he came over to him. "I have a call for you that's been trying to reach you. It's from your guild and they say it's rather important." He handed a communication lacrima over to Velvet with him taking it and using it like a phone.
"Hello?" Velvet said and was given the message. "What?! Aster came back and formed a team with Maru, Gin, and Yukina?!" He could tell from that message that there must be something rather serious going on. "They went to Wolfbane, you say?" He ended the call and knew there had to be something going on. "Things must be rather serious of those lot formed a team. Excuse me, but I am going to need assistance. What's the fastest way to get in contact with someone all the way in Wolfbane?" The members of his guild are doing their part for a serious crisis, but he has to do his part now.
...
Maru
Even though Maru managed to limit Zareb's options, Zareb was still holding his own in a fight against Maru. He still made use of his speed with him getting in close and landing a few good strikes against Maru. Maru was knocked down and almost went over the edge of the train. Zareb stepped down to try and push Maru off the train with his foot, but Maru was holding him back.
"You're tough, but not good enough." Zareb said. "No matter what you try, you won't stop this train in time. This train will crash into Era soon."
"Get off!" Maru said as he managed to push Zareb off and get back up. "What is it with you? Why target the Magic Council like this? What are you hoping to obtain?"
"To get those stuck-ups out of my hair." Zareb said. "I had a good thing going before they ruined it for me. In fact, that's also why I got so many thugs to help me out in this. They're rather sick of guilds and wizards getting in their way. If we can take the Magic Council out of the picture, it will keep those guild wizards from meddling with their plans and I'll be free to do what I please. After all, while the Magic Council is busy trying to recover and repair from that, they'll be too busy to deal with someone like me. That's what they get for constantly meddling in other people's business the way they do."
"What about all the innocent people?!" Maru argued. "Have you thought about how many innocent people will be killed by something like this?!"
"So what? It will just be collateral damage." Zareb said as he acted like it was no big deal, but Maru isn't going to have any of that. "It's the Magic Council's fault. They're the ones that are trying to deny us the freedom of how we use our magic. If I want to use my magic for dirty jobs, it's my business. They have it coming."
"No!" Maru said with him smashing his fist against the train. "That's all from your choice! You chose to become a killer! You chose to use your magic to kill people! That's how you ended up in this situation, and all you want to do is kill more!"
"Magic should be free to be used however we like, and those people want to ruin it for us!" Zareb called.
"That's not it at all! They don't want ruthless people like you using it to hurt others! It's as simple as that!" Maru said. "You think this is all of their fault, but it's actually your own because you chose this life! All because you were greedy and thought money was so important that you had no problem taking life!"
"Enough of your blabber! Let's see if you're talking once you're thrown off the train!" Zareb said as he was aiming to end this.
"I don't think so! This madness of yours ends!" Maru called as he held out his hands to the side and formed a massive ring of light. Zareb could sense the magic power in that spell and noticed something felt off.
'What's going on? What's with this magic power?' Zareb thought.
"Halo Rang!" Maru took the ring and threw it as hard as he could. The ring smashed into Zareb and lifted him off the train. Maru had some control over it and had the halo came back to him with it bringing Zareb right to him.
'This isn't normal light magic! What kind of magic is this?!' Zareb thought. Maru went for the finish. Maru gathered light into his fist and smashed it against Zareb with an explosion of light going off. Zareb finally faced punishment for all his crimes with him facing the wrath of a brilliant light. That attack was enough to knock him out. Maru was able to take him down rather hard. Zareb was knocked out, but the speed of the train was pushing him to the edge. He was going to fall off, but Maru grabbed a hold of him and kept him from falling.
"You might be a killer, but a fall like this could kill you. Even you don't deserve that." Maru said. That was when he realized that the train was still going. "Oh no! The train!" He looked to see Era was just up ahead. If Maru doesn't do something soon, the train is going to crash and take out a good part of Era in the process.